File #: 15-0737    Version: 1 Name: 2014 COPS Hiring Grant
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
File created: 4/7/2015 In control: Public Safety
On agenda: 6/17/2015 Final action: 6/17/2015
Title: Dept/ Agency: Police Action: ( X ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending Type of Service: Application/Acceptance of Grant Funds Purpose: Hiring Sworn Personnel Entity Name: Newark Police Department Entity Address: 480 Clinton Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07108 Grant Amount: $1,875,000.00 Funding Source: U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office Total Project Cost: $6,425,146.53 City Contribution: $4,550,146.53 Other Funding Source/Amount: Contract Period: September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2017 Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS ( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ ( ) Private Sale ( XX ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a Additional Information:
Sponsors: Council of the Whole
Title
Dept/ Agency:  Police
Action:  ( X  ) Ratifying     (X) Authorizing     (   ) Amending
Type of Service:  Application/Acceptance of Grant Funds
Purpose: Hiring Sworn Personnel
Entity Name:  Newark Police Department
Entity Address:  480 Clinton Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07108
Grant Amount:  $1,875,000.00
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office
Total Project Cost: $6,425,146.53  
City Contribution:  $4,550,146.53             
Other Funding Source/Amount:    
Contract Period:  September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2017
Contract Basis: (   ) Bid   (   ) State Vendor   (   ) Prof.  Ser.   (   ) EUS   
(   ) Fair & Open   (   ) No Reportable Contributions   (   ) RFP   (   ) RFQ
(   ) Private Sale   ( XX  ) Grant   (   ) Sub-recipient   (   ) n/a
Additional Information:
                   
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WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services ("COPS"), advances the practice of community policing in America's state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies by sharing information and providing grant funding to police departments; and
 
WHEREAS, the 2014 COPS Hiring Program Grant ("CHP") has been made available to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide, and by providing jurisdictions with financial support to add or rehire law enforcement personnel vital to effective police operations and other crime reduction strategies consistent with the community policing philosophy; and
 
WHEREAS, a CHP grant funds a portion of the costs associated with hiring and employing full-time police officers for a three (3) year period; and
 
WHEREAS, a condition to the receipt of CHP grant funds is that, after the above-described three (3) year CHP funding period, a grantee must retain each CHP-funded position for at least an additional one (1) year period using local, state or other sources of non-CHP funds (the "Retention Requirement"); and
 
WHEREAS, an additional condition to receipt of CHP grant funds is that the grantee's funds budgeted to pay for police officer positions (irrespective of the receipt of CHP grant funds) may not be reallocated to other purposes as a result of a CHP grant being awarded, i.e., the CHP grant funds must supplement, not supplant, a grantee's funds budgeted to pay for police officer positions (the "Non-Supplanting Requirement");
 
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2014, on behalf of the City of Newark, the Director of the Newark Police Department submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office requesting grant funding from the 2014 COPS Hiring Program to be used toward the hiring of fifteen (15) full-time police officers (a copy of the application is attached hereto and made a part hereof); and
 
WHEREAS, as a result of this application, the City of Newark has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,875,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, to be used toward the hiring of fifteen (15) full-time police officers, with a grant award start date of September 1, 2014, and a grant award end date of August 31, 2017 (a copy of the grant award letter is attached hereto and made a part hereof); and
 
WHEREAS, on November 24, 2014, and December 16, 2014, the Director of the Newark Police Department and the Mayor of the City of Newark, respectively, did enter into and execute an award document with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services ("Award Document"), relative to the above-mentioned grant award (a copy of the Award Document and its associated terms and condition are attached hereto and made a part hereof);
 
WHEREAS, the estimated cost to the City to hire fifteen (15) officers over the three (3) year grant term and the additional twelve (12) month retention period required by the terms of the grant, is expected not to exceed $4,550,146.53, inclusive of fringe benefits (i.e., a total project cost of approximately $6,425,146.53, minus the $1,875,000.00 COPS grant, equals approximately $4,550,146.53 to be paid by the City); and
 
WHEREAS, the City intends to use general funds for the retention period and shall document its plan during the term of this grant; and
     
WHEREAS, the Director of the Newark Police Department recommends that the execution of the COPS 2014 grant application and Award Document be authorized and ratified, and that the grant funds of $1,875,000.00 be accepted, in order to help promote law enforcement efforts and the safety of the citizens of the City of Newark.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
    1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Newark Police Department, are hereby authorized to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, requesting grant funding from the 2014 COPS Hiring Program seeking funds to assist in the hiring and employment of fifteen (15) full-time police officers.
    3. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of this application from the date of application submission to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution.
    5. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Newark Police Department, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute an Award Document with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, in order to receive the grant funding described above, and to expend the funds toward the hiring of fifteen (15) full-time police officers, with a grant award start date of September 1, 2014, and a grant award end date of August 31, 2017.
    7. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of the execution of the Award Document from the date of execution to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution.
    9. The Award Document, and its associated terms and conditions, between the City of Newark and the U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office, is hereby ratified from September 1, 2014, to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
    10. The grant award in the amount of $1,875,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office, to be used toward the hiring and employment of fifteen (15) police officers for a three (3) year period, is hereby accepted.
    1. This grant will fund (75%) of the entry-level salaries and most fringe benefits of only fifteen (15) police officers for thirty-six (36) months and requires the City to retain these CHP-funded positions for an additional twelve (12) months beyond the grant period.
    1. The City shall be responsible through its municipal budget to pay approximately $898,697.88 annually in budget years 2015, 2016, and 2017 for partial salary costs, and approximately $1,854,052.54 in budget year 2018 for the full cost of the salary and fringe benefits of the fifteen (15) police officers as per the terms of the grant.
    1. Matching funds for the first year has been identified in the Operating Budget of the Police Department and shall be provided from the following line appropriation: Unclassified Operations-Special Items of Appropriation: Fund 011, Department ID# 230, Division Code 2301.
    1. The Director of the Newark Police Department shall comply with all grant requirements, including the statutorily mandated Retention and Non-Supplanting Requirements.
    1. The Director of the Newark Police Department shall file a fully executed copy of the grant application, the grant award letter, and the grant Award Document in the Office of City Clerk.
 
STATEMENT
 
This resolution ratifies and authorizes the actions taken by the Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Newark Police Department, to submit an application for grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office, to be used toward the hiring and employment of fifteen (15) full-time police officers, and furthermore, ratifies and authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of Police, to enter into and execute an agreement with and accept said grant funds in the amount of $1,875,000.00 for the period commencing on September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2017. This grant will fund (75%) entry-level salaries and most fringe benefits for thirty-six (36) months and requires the City to retain these officers for an additional twelve (12) months beyond the grant period. The entire costs to cover the difference in the salary and fringe benefits to hire the fifteen (15) police officers over the three (3) year grant period and the required twelve (12) month retention period is expected not to exceed $4,550,146.53, inclusive of fringe benefits.